Chinon CM-5
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| image by Pedro Re' (Image rights) |
The CM-5 is a 35mm film SLR camera from Chinon. It is a fairly conventional manual-exposure model accepting K mount lenses, and for a new film shooter might be an appealing alternative to other common "student" cameras like the Pentax K1000 (for example, it offers a self-timer). Its light metering uses a familiar 3-LED display (under/correct/over) after a light tap of the shutter release; but unusually, the LEDs light up outside the camera eyepiece in the user's peripheral vision.
The camera was offered in both black and gunmetal colors, and is notable for a detachable handgrip which includes recesses for two spare batteries. (The manual states the shutter will not operate without power from two SR44 or LR44 1.5v button cells.) The body is able to accept several Chinon data-imprinting backs, and (with limitations) certain Chinon power winders.
This appears to be the Chinon model rebadged by Best Products as their Albinar MS-2.
A few references include this among the countless entry-level SLRs derived from Cosina's CT1 Super; but they likely are confusing it with the (Cosina-built) Chinon CM-7. The model CM-5 has numerous styling differences and its Seiko shutter only offers a 1/60 second sync speed.
